Someone recently posed this question to me: “What is your favorite Gospel story and why?” I’ve been asked this in the past and so I was ready for it. On the Road to Emmaus from Luke was my answer. 

I’m drawn to the Emmaus story for many reasons, one of which relates to my belief, and I would even say personal prayer, that we must keep our gaze on Christ. In times of joy, struggle, pain, challenge, jubilation, and suffering… we do well to keep our gaze ever upon him and, even when it is hard, continue to follow after him. 

The disciples on the road to Emmaus had Jesus right there in front of them, yet they did not recognize him. They were completely clueless until he broke the bread and offered his signature move; they recognized him in the Eucharist. Though they had desired to keep their gaze upon him, even when facing him straight on, they could not. 

This is, of course, a compelling affirmation of the power and grace of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which as a Church is also our signature move. But it also underscores something else. Finding Jesus is more than something we alone can do; we must rely upon him. It was not until Jesus “did something”, that is, the breaking of bread, that they could see what they had completely missed.

I feel this is relevant and instructive to us as his modern-day followers because it can help us to realize that it’s not solely on us. In other words, it’s not within our capability or power to summon him to appear before us. We, by ourselves, cannot seek and find Jesus. Instead, we must rely upon him to do so. 

During the Season of Lent, we prepare for what is coming, traveling along with Jesus on the road toward the fateful events of Jerusalem. During this season, we hear over and over again about the notion of readiness and should we feel that this is something we can do by ourselves, then I believe we are missing something essential. 

Consider the difference between these two approaches to readiness. First, we can ask: what must I do to see Jesus? How can I keep him within my line of sight? How can I muster up whatever is necessary to live a proper Lent? How do I pursue him relentlessly? 

Or, second, we can ask: how can I achieve a state of readiness? What must I do to be able to hear, see, feel his presence? And when Jesus does “something”, as happened to his fellow Emmaus travelers, will I be able to recognize him then? 

Readiness is a state we can achieve through participating in the Sacraments, by seeking moments of silence (including in front of the Eucharist), by removing some of the biggest distractions in our lives, by being honest about our own sinfulness and adopting practices to lessen its damaging effect on our lives, by joining a community of like-minded fellow pilgrims who are actively seeking Christ, and by remembering always that Jesus is coming for us, as did the shepherd for his lost sheep and as did the father who ran out to greet his prodigal son. Remember that Mary answered the angel’s request by saying: “May it be done to me.” She didn’t declare: “What must I do next?” Instead, she let it be done to her. 

Consider this prayer for Lent: “Jesus, do something to me, with me, in me, and through me.” 

Because we just can’t do it by ourselves.